Working in a major medical center, I see the value everyday of research. Now there is a website where you can volunteer to be a research subject. No, I'm not talking about the kind of research that is dangerous to your health or well being!
Without going into a lot of detail, research today is carefully regulated to protect the volunteer.
On researchmatch.org, you can learn all the information you need to know to decide if you want to volunteer for research. You can narrow your choices of being a volunteer to location and other parameters. I chose only to volunteer at the University of Rochester Medical Center where I work.
You are never under any obligation and can opt out of volunteering at any time, even after you are part of a study. And it is completely confidential.
I signed up a few months ago and was recently contacted by a researcher via e-mail for a study. I agreed to talk to the individual by phone. It is a study on platelets. When I met their initial criteria, I was invited to come in for my first visit. The only hardship I endured was having to go without breakfast and my beloved coffee on the morning of my visit! Once I sat down and began talking with the researcher, he asked if I had any questions. I said, "Yeah, how soon before I can have my cup of coffee?" As it turned out, because I had recently had blood drawn for my routine visit to my primary care doctor, I didn't even have to have blood drawn that morning. They went into the computer and got the information on me they needed. . . meaning I gave up my coffee that morning for nothing!!! I will be called in one more time and at the end of my commitment, I will be paid a nominal sum of money.
Please take a moment to visit www.researchmatch.org to learn more and decide if you want to be a part of this very worthwhile opportunity.
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It sounds so worth while. Do you get to know what they are trying to accomplish for the study, or would that be too much information that could influence the outcome?
ReplyDeleteThey tell you. They were looking for two groups - one group that has diabetes (not me!) and another healthy group (me!) I forgot specifically what they are looking for. But research goes on for years and years. One study builds on findings from a previous one. In fact, most scientists spend their whole careers looking to solve one issue or find one cure. That's why these guys are so different from the rest of us and can't relate to us!!!
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